[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 17 - 20/12/06 (19.30 UK)
Palermo - Ascoli

Stadio Barbera

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Palermo and Ascoli will both be desperate to come away from the Stadio Renzo Barbera with all three points after this match, but for very different reasons. While the Rosanero are in danger of completely losing touch of the League leaders, the visitors are rooted firmly to bottom of the table.

The Sicilian giants’ great start to the season has been nearly wiped out in recent weeks after their Rosanero bubble well and truly burst in Week 12. At that point they were on a streak of five consecutive wins, but have added just one to that tally since. Their thrashing of Livorno had seemed to suggest things were back on track until they were brushed aside 4-0 by Roma last week.

Palermo now find themselves 11 points away from first placed Inter. Although they keep announcing the Scudetto is not their aim, there will no doubt be unease at how quickly they have dropped off the pace. The injuries to Aimo Diana and Cesare Bovo will not help their attempts to get back into gear, and nor will the suspension to Fabio Simplicio after his red card against Roma.

But while things have started to go wrong for Palermo in recent weeks, disaster has followed Ascoli around all season. Still the only Serie A team without a win to their name, things are looking bleak for the Bianconeri. Admittedly there is still a long way to go, but their 10 defeats already and the five-point gap between them and safety will make for depressing reading for their fans.

Likewise their record of nine goals conceded in four matches is something that will need to be fixed, with the arrival of new Coach Nedo Sonetti as yet failing to produce the improvements they were hoping for. Add to those existing problems with the absence of such experienced heads as Gaetano Fontana, Marco Delvecchio and Paolo Foglio, and things could be tough for them in Sicily.

Man on fire: Amauri (Palermo) – The Brazilian striker has maintained his record of scoring in every other match since as far back as Week 6. After drawing a blank against Roma the form book suggests Amauri will hit the back of the net this week.

Last season: Palermo 1-1 Ascoli

Form guide: Palermo (L L D W L) Ascoli (D L D W L)


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Palermo (probable): Fontana; Cassani, Zaccardo, Barzagli, Pisano; Corini, Guana; Tedesco, Di Michele, Bresciano; Amauri

Ascoli (probable): Pagliuca; Cudini, Pecorari, Nastase, Minieri; Boudianski; Fini, Galloppa, Zanetti, Guberti; Bjelanovic

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/pal-asc.html